The university said the decision 'has nothing to do with freedom of speech,' but the student and advocacy groups say it's a silencing.
The University of Southern California canceled a commencement speech by its 2024 valedictorian who has publicly supported Palestinians, citing security concerns for the rare decision that has been praised by several pro-Israel groups and lambasted by free speech advocates and the country's largest Muslim civil rights organization.
"The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement," Guzman wrote. "Anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a campaign of racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all," she said, adding though that she was not aware of any specific threats against her or the university.
"To be clear: this decision has nothing to do with freedom of speech," Guzman wrote."There is no free-speech entitlement to speak at a commencement. The issue here is how best to maintain campus security and safety, period."
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